Headache racks are not "useless" but like any other piece of equipment they can only do so much.
One of the company trucks here had a piece of pipe come out of the center of a load and hit the headache rack. The headache rack was dented up pretty badly but that was all. Imagine what that would have done to the back of the sleeper.
Last year I saw a truck in Colorado sitting on the side of the road with some steel bars sticking in the back of his sleeper on his nice newer Peterbilt...He had to stop fast and they slid forward and did quite a bit of damage.
A headache rack would have prevented all of the damage to that truck...That alone makes a headache rack worth the investment, Not to mention the extra storage space.
Question of Chains vs. Straps
Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Injun, Dec 23, 2011.
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Its been years since I was a flatbedder, but I remember always using trip chains when I felt necessary. And saying headache racks are pointless is just foolish. No, they arent going to stop every load, but that sure do stop some. Even an aluminum headache rack is stronger than the back of a sleeper. I wouldnt pull pipe without a headache rack.
Securing the load is something you obviously never want to do halfa$$ed, because peoples lives are at stake. I -
I am not a pro trucker but I have been running lowboy and flatbed as needed for my job for ten years. I use as many chains or 4"straps as possible prob overkill but as I see it, it is my job to have a safe load and keep drivers around me safe.
SHC Thanks this. -
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The customer you are hauling for request either the load be pyramid or stripped not the trucking company. I have never had a load move on me and I have hauled a lot of pipe over the years even when I slammed on the brakes to avoid a pile up in Houston that just happen in front of me. I thought the load shifted as hard as I had to stop but got out and it and it never moved. I don't take short cuts or chances when it comes to tying down loads, it maybe your last one. When I would load pyramid pipe I would belly wrap it three times and strap the load down with two straps in front and a strap every six feet. When the law can see your load as you go by and see how many tie downs you have or see how old they look why would you want to take short cuts.
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IMO straps should be illegal on steel unless they are being used as extra securement. Straps have to much stretch in them.
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They are not useless to a person that does not secure there load correctly and the load slides forward in transit but in a wreck 9 times out of 10 the rack will be toast. Do i run one no and i have a nice fancy pete so according to you i should be laughed at. If you tie your load down correctly a headach rack is not needed. Never once in 22 years have i had a load move on me. I was rear ended buy a tour bus doing 65mph while i was doing 25 in traffic and my load of lumber never moved. Buy the way my chains are rolled up in milk crates in my side boxes. Besides a rack is only 4ft high and i see alot of pipe load higher than the rack so what happens to the pipe that slides out above the rack? Right into the cab. I have seen alot of loads where a piece in the middle has slid forward and the cause loose straps or chains 99% of the time. Lazy drivers. -
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For pipe like that I use straps. lots and lots of straps!! I gut wrap every layer if I can. chain is slick on metal pipe. as big as I am, I can't get it tight enough to suite me. when I have a load of pipe on I drive alot more defencivly also. Give my safe more room to stop.
Mommas_money_maker Thanks this.
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